Acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



No. 658,966. Patented 0,01. 2, |900,v l

D. .L. SPAULDING & vA.` S. VOSE. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Applicatiu'n me@ Nov. s, 1899.)

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No` 658,966.- Patente Oct.' 2, |900. D. L; SPAULDINIV A. S. VUSE. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented nt. 2, |906. D. L. SPAULDINGL. A. S. VSE.`

(Application tiled Nov. 3, 1899.)

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ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

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llllllllllllllullll No. 658,966. v 'Patemedtft 2, `|900. D. L. SPAULDING & A.S. VSE.

ACETYLENE GAS"`GEN'ERATIN'G APPARATUS. l

(Application led Nov. 3, 1899.) l(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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UNITED STATESVA PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID L. SPAULDING, OF BOSTON, AND AMBROSE S. VOSE, OF

BRooKLINE,

MASSACHUSETTS.

vACETYLEN E-cAs-G ENERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent N o. `658,966, dated October 2, 1,900.

Application led November 3, 18,99*- Serial No. 735,695. (No model.)

To (Ml whom it may cow/cern.-

Beit known that we, DAVID L. SPAULDING,

of Boston, in the county of Suolk, and AM- BROSE S. VOSE, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a description sufticien tly full, clear, and exact to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertainsv or with which it is most nearly connected to make and use the same.

The present invention -aims in general to provide a thoroughly practical and efficient acetylene gas generating apparatus calculated to fully satisfy every Vrequirement that can reasonably be exacted of this type of apparatus.

Animportant object,amongothers,is to provide for carrying a large amount of calcium carbid in the generator subdivided proportionately to the gas-holding capacity of the machine, whatever that may be.

Specific objects of the invention are to improve the construction of the carbid-receptacle, so as to provide for increasing its capacity, while preserving the units of subdivision and obviating the necessity of additional generators, and also in large plants using less door space to provide ample room in the receptacle for expansion of the carbid; to minimize capillary action in the charge of carbid; to prov-ide improved means for estab lishing and preserving the water seal of theA carbid-holder or generating-chamber to provide an improved arrangement for closing the gas and water conduits by the operation of undoing the fastenings of the cover to the carbid-holder, and Yto provide means for automatically regulating the water-supply valve through connection with the gasometer in such a way that a predetermined extent of movement of the gasometer-dome in either direction from any position it may assume within a given range will effect an operation of the valve, so that very shortly after the dome commences to rise or fall an operation of the valve will ensue and extended movement of the dome for this purpose is rendered unnecessary, whereby after-production of gas is reduced to a minimum.

of the locking means. tary vertical section of a portion of the washer- The above-stated and other incidental ob- .jects hereinafter made apparent being had in view, the invention consists in a number of novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are recited in the appended claims and aV number of forms of embodiment of which are specifically described hereinafter and illustrated'in the accompanying drawings.

- Of the drawings, Figure l represents the apparatus partly in side elevation and partly in vertical cross-section, certain parts being represented as broken away to disclose interior constructions. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

i Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 3 3 and 4 Ll of Fig. l. Fig. is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 5 5 ot' Fig. l. Fig. 6 represents in top plan View the carbid-holder with the cover locked, the dotted lines indicating the released position Fig. 7 is a fragmentank and the outlet-bend thereof. Fig. 8 represents in side elevation a modified form of means for automatically operating the watersupply valve.

1 arrangement of carbid-holders in conjuncvtion with a single gasometer.

In the drawings the reference-letter ot designates the exterior casing of the carbidholder, the same being inthe form of a rectangular tank containing a body of water for the purpose of effecting the required'sealing of the generating-chamber. A rectangular cover b is suspended in inverted position in the said body of water over the carbid-receptacle c, which is of rectangular form to correspond with the casing ct and removable from within an inner casing d, suitably secured to the outer casing a. This receptaclev c is divided into a number of compartments by means of vertical imperforate partitions c', terminating somewhat below the top of the receptacle, so as to provide for overiiow IOO of water from one compartment into an adjacent compartment, and this may be facilitated b y notching the upper edges of the partitions, as shown at c2 in Fig. 1. The said partitions are preferably fixed, and the oompartments formed by them are subdivided by means of a sectional grate, which is removable and comprises a top bar e, connecting the dierent sections el, which extend to the bottoms of the compartments, respectively, and form therein on the one side chambers for charges of calcium carbid and on the other side spaces to allow for expansion of the carbid. The bars and slots of the grate extend vertically, and the slots which occur between lhe sections accommodate the partitions c', as clearly shown in Fig. 5, the other slots providing passage-ways for the decomposed calcium carbid. The grate is here shown as conned between guide-strips e4, fastened to the end walls of the carbid-receptacle and between which the grate slides when inserted and removed. By this arrangementit will be seen that ample space is allowed for the expansion of the volume of carbid, which takes place when water is admitted to the chamber.

Since it is desirable to restrict as far as possible capillary action throughout a charge of carbid, which action would be promoted by superposing weight upon one portion of the charge directly in contact with the water, we subdivide the carbid-chambers by horizontal partitions, of which there may be one or more in each chamber. Each of such partitions is in the form of a plate e2, hinged to one of the grate-sections and adapted after the portion of the chamber below the hinge has been filled to be loweredl to horizontal position, in which position itis held by means of a catch, here shown in the form of a rod e3 having a bent lower end to take under the plate and being arranged to turn so that the plate may be permitted to drop when the grate is to be removed. The upper portion of the charge of carbid rests upon this partition-plate, which serves the purpose of obviating excessive capillary action both by reason of relieving the lower portion of the charge from considerable weight and also by reason of constituting a barrier to capillarity.

Water is supplied to the tank a for sealing purposes through an inlet-pipe ct', entering the upper portion of the tank, and the outflow for such water is provided by means of a pipe c2, opening at its upper end within the cover b and passing at its lower portion out through the casing a, on the exterior of which it is continued in the form of a bend a3, the upper portion of which is on substantially the same level as the upper end of the pipe a2.

It will be seen that the water-level is controlled by the above-described arrangement of pipes, and in the construction here shown is maintained practically at about the height ot the bend 0.3. Of course it will be understood that when gas is generated within the carbid-chamber the resultant pressure -will lower the Water-level within the cover b somewhat below the level of water outside of said cover, and it is therefore desirable that the level be maintained by pipe connections in communication with the interior of the cover, as here shown. We preferably provide an open nipple a4 at the upper end of the bend as to prevent a siphonic action and also provide for inspection to ascertain the level.

The water-supply for the generation of gas is taken from a tank g, from which leads a pipe g', extending downwardly to the lower portion of the casing a, through which it passes into the interior thereof, and thence upwardly within the cover l), finally opening into the interior of the casing d, so as to discharge into the carbid receptacle. Gas passes out of the carbid-holder through a pipe 7l, opening into the upper part of the holder and passing downwardly to the lower portion of the tank a and out through the same, and thence upwardly to a valve-casing il, said pipe having a branch h', entering said valve-casing at a lower point. This valvecasing also receives the pipe g, and the plugvalve t" is of triple formation, so as to control the liow of iiuid through the water-pipe, the gas-pipe, and the vent-pipe 7L. The valveplug is rendered eicie't for this triple purpose by providing it with three ports, two of which, g" and h, extend in the same direction for registry with the water and gas pipes, respectively, and the third and lowermost one of which, h", extends at right angles to the other two,so that when thewater and gas pipes are openvthe vent-pipe is closed, and vice versa.

For the purpose of insuring the cutting olf of the water-supply and also preventing backiow of gas when the coverof the carbid-holder is removed or released from its fastening means the following construction is employd: A series of horizontal swinging latches i2, z3, and i4 extend across the top or cover b of the carbid-holder and engage under catches i5, which are preferably secured to. uprights a5 of a base a6, on which the tank crests. The two outside latches i2 and i4 are pivoted to brackets secured to thetank a, and the middle latch i3 is secured to the stem of the valve i', which constitutes a pivot for this middle latch, and the three pivots of the latches are oset from each other, as shown in Fig. 6, so that they may be swung clear of the cover b and lie against each other edge to edge, as illustrated in dottedlines in Fig. 6. The three latches are connected by a radius-bar t, so that they will move in unison, the said radiusbar being pivotally connected with the latches at corresponding distances from their pivots, so as to be parallel with a line embracing the three pivots.

It will be seen that the above-described construction of cover-securing means provides IOO IIC

fora movement of the valve t" through ninety degrees by the displacement of the latches from their position over the cover. Such movement of the valve from the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 1 eects a closure of the pipes g and h and opens communication between the branch pipe h and the lower port h'" of the valve-plug for a purpose presently to be described.

The gas is collected in a gasometer, but is first preferably passed through a washer, here shown as located below the gasometer and comprising a tank j, containing a body of water, into the upper portion of which tank enters a pipe h2 as acontinuation of the pipe h, this pipe h2 being united to the central portion of a hood, which is partially submerged in the body of water within the tank j. This hood is of an elongated shape and comprises a dome-like central portionj, into which the pipe h2 enters, and laterally-extended perforated wings f, and also end pieces js. This hood is so located that the water-level does not extend to the top of the dome, some con- -the compartment in which the washer-hood is contained has communication with the other compartment by means of a pipe I75, opening at its upper end into the washervhood compartment at the desired level and atits lower end into the other compartmentj, so as to preserve the same water-level in each compartment, notwithstandingthe gas-pressure in the washing-compartment. A ventpipe la opens out of the compartmentj6 at the upper portion thereof adjacent to the partition j4, and at a diametrically-oppositepointa pipe h3 enters the tan kj, said pipe being a continuation of the pipe h and providing for the venting of gas contained in the carbid-holder after communication has been cut off between the same and the gasometer by the turning of the valve t". This vent connection also has the advantage of providing for the easy removal of the cover b of the carbidholder, since it obviates a vacuum, and is further useful in providing an escape for air when the cover is put on, so that by the lowering of the cover the air is expelled from the generating chamber, and thus prevented from passing to the gasometer with the gas generated in the carbid-holder.

Water is supplied to the tank j by means ofa vertically-extending pipe m, entering the lower portion of the washer-compartment, and the outlet from the tank is provided by means of a pipe m', communicating with the lower portion of the other compartment and taking the form of a bend, so as to preserve the water-level in the tank. This bend is formed with an open nipple m2 for the purpose of preventing its operation as a siphon.

The gasometer comprises the usual tank n and inverted member n', between which and the fixed member there exists a water seal. A stand-pipe n2 rises from the center of the bottom of the tank n, said pipe being open at both ends, and a larger pipe or tube n3 depends from the center of the top of the dome 'n' and slides on the pipe n2, these telescoping pipes constituting a guiding means for the dome in its up-and-down movements, and also providing a safety-conduit for the blowoff of gas should the dome be raised excessively. For the latter purpose a port n4 is formed in one side of the tube n3, said port being ordinarily closed by reason of the water seal; but should the dome reach a position where said port is brought to or nearly to the upper end of the pipe n2 it will be seen that an avenue of escape for the gas is provided between the dome and the compartmentj. Other guiding means are provided for the dome by means of upright rods W5, secured to the sides of the tank n and united by a cross-bar as, and a weighted cross-piece o extends over the top of the dome and is secured thereto, said weighted cross-piece embracing the rods a5, on which it slides, and being formed with a iange o", Within which additional weight may be accommodated.

Gas passes to the dome from the washer by Way of a pipe p, which opens at its lower end into the top of the washer-compartment and at its upper end into the dome beyond the water-level. The gas passes from the dome to the service-piping by means of a pipe q, opening at its upper end into the dome, passing down through the body of water in the gasometer, and laterally through the side of the tank n, as shown in Fig. 2. A branch pipe q, which appears as a downward continuation of the pipe q, passes through the bottom of the tank n and into the body of water in the tankj, opening near the bottom of the latter. This provides for dripping of condensation, so as to keep the same from the service-piping, and also may operate as a safety-pressure blow-off in case of failure of the regular blow-oit to act from any cause.

The level of water in the tankj is ascertained by means of a lip r, communicating by a pipe r' with the interior -of the tankj at the lower portion of the same.

A number of different forms of means are illustrated whereby the water-supply to the carbid-holder may be regulated according to the rise and fall of the gasometer-dome, such means providing for a shifting of the watervalve shortly after the commencement of movement of the dome either up or down, whatever position the dome may have reached within a predetermined range.

In Fig. l the stem of the valve which controls the flow of water from the tank g to the carbid-holder is designated by the reference- IOO IIO

-letter s, and upon this stem there is affixed a' disk s', having two straight edges s2 and s3, `preferably forming an obtuse angle. A weighted bar s4 is hinged at one end to the tank n, as shown at S5, and extends horizontally therefrom, so as to rest upon one or the other of the edges s2 or s3, and thereby hold the valve either open or closed. The diskis formed with a projection or tooth s, which extends toward the gasometer,pointing downwardly when the valve is open and upwardly when the valve is closed and under the latter conditions occupying a slot 37 in the bar. The dome of the gasometer carries a depending rod or bar t, having a series of equidistant -rigid projections t for coaction with the projection s6 of the disk, this bar extending practically the full height of the gasolneter. In addition to the rigid projections t it is preferably provided at a point below the lowermost rigid projection with a pivoted tripplate t, shouldered, as at t3, to bear against the bar t, so that the upper edge of the tripplate may constitute an abutment for coaction with the projection s6 of the valve-disk in the same manner as the rigid projections t' do under upward movement of the dome. The lower side of the trip-plate is beveled and the bar t is slotted, as at t4, so that when the dome moves downward after the trip-plate has passed the valve the plate will be turned back into the slot and will not operate the Valve on the return movement.

It will be seen that by the above-described construction provision is made for effecting an operation of the valve either to open or close the water-pi pe by a comparativelyshort rise or fall of the gasometer anywhere within the range of the series of projections t. Downward movement of the dome from the position in which it appears in Fig. l would cause the uppermost projection t to displace the valve projection s6, but not move the same far enough to cause a change in position of the valvesthat is to say, a closing of the valve. The effect will be simply to litt the weighted arm s4 slightly, the valve being restored to the position it already occupied as soon as the projection has passed, as will be apparent. On upward movement of the gas- `ometer-dome the projection t next below the valve-disk will act upon the projection s6 of the latter and continue to carry the same upward until the disk is turned far enough for the weighted arm s4 to complete the closing movement of the valve. Further upward movement of the gasometer-dome will simply cause the following projections t to displace the projection s6 in the manner above described with reference to the eect of downward movement of the dome from the position shown in Fig. l. By this kind of an arrangement the water-supply valve having been closed downward movement of the gasometer-dome a comparatively-short distance is sufficient to cause the openingl of the valve, and it is not necessary for the dome to travel to its lowest position before openin g the valve, and the same is true of the closing movement of the valve under an upward movement of the dome. The extra abutment, which has heretofore been referred to as a trip-plate, is provided to guard against the possibility of breaking of the Water seal of the gasometer by an excessive rise of the dome should it happen that after the lowermost projection t passed above the valve projection and returned against the same upon commencement of a fall of the dome gas should be generated so quickly as to prevent the lower-most projection t from passing below the valve projection. In this event the Lipper edge of the trip-plate t3 will act against the valve projection so as to close the valve, and the abnormally-elevated position of the dome will not be maintained by an opening of the valve under downward movement of the dome for the reason that the trip-plate passes the dome without operating the valve in downward movement.

In Fig. 8 a modified form of valve structure is illustrated, the same comprising a circular disk u, fastened to the valve-stem u' and formed with a weighted radial arm u2, resting against a fixed stop 11,3 and tending to close the valve. At a point diatnetrically opposite thearm u a tappet or tooth 11.4 is pivoted to the disk u, said tooth being formed with a shoulder a5 to bear against the periphery of the disk, preventing movement of the tooth on its pivot in one direction beyond a radial position. The bar t5 of the gasometerdome is provided with a series of rigid 4projections or ltappets t, as in the construction shown in Fig. l, and these projections are designed to operate against the tooth a4 upon the lowering of the gasometer-dome, so as to open the valve and admit Water to the carbid-holder. Dotted lines illustrate the .position of parts when the valve is closed,land it will be seen that the tooth @t4 bears upwardly against one of the projections t. Continued downward movement of the gasometer after the opening of the valve will cause the projections t to pass the projection or tooth 11,4, rocking the valve slightlyvwithout closing it. In this construction the projections t6 do not operate positively to close -the valve;. but the weighted arm u2 performs thisr function, the projections t, however, controlling the closing movement so long as any of them are above the tooth fw. This modified form is chiefiy advantageous in that should the gasometer-dome drop by reason of the absence of gas-pressure Within it and the uppermost tooth t6 be thereby carried past the tooth @L4 the water-supply will be cut 0E through the medium of the Weighted arm u2, and generation of gas while burners are open after lights have gone out from lack of gas is thus prevented.

Another modification is illustrated in Fig. 9, the valve structure being so arranged in this case that the projections on the dome bar IOO IIO

or rod may trip past the valve projection withoutcausinganyrockingofthe valve, thedome bar or rod t7 being provided with a series of rigid projections or tappets t8, as in the construction already described. A circular disk t is aihxed to the valve-stem r', and a tappet in the form of a rocking arm o2 is pivoted to the disk, as shown at @3, said arm having lateral projections v4 extending over the periphery of the disk and allowinga limited rocking movement of the arm. A straight rod w is coupled at one end to the arm fu2 and carries a weight wat the opposite or outer end, said rod extending at right angles to the arm and between pins fw2 on a lateral projection of the latter. When the valve is closed, said arm o2 extends upwardly at such an inclination that the weight w' has the effect of turning the same on its pivot until the lower lateral projection c4 of thearm encounters the periphery of the disk, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 9. It will be seen that with the parts thus relatively positioned one of the pins t8, moving upwardly in to contact with the arm '02, may pass the same, rocking it on its pivot v3 without aect-ing the valve, and the pin having passed the arm the 'weight w' will restore the latter to its former position ready for coaction with a downwardly-moving pin for the purpose of opening the valve. The open position of the valve and attached parts is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and the weight having` been shifted acrossa median vertical line operates to swing the arm 'v2 upwardly, so as to hold said arm in position for coaction with an upwardly-moving` pin, while at the same time a downwardlymoving pin may pass the arm, rocking it on its pivot.

In order to fulfil a requirement sometimes made-viz. that turning on of the water-supply by hand be guarded against-we may provide one or more ribs or strips on the tappetbar of the gasometer-dome beyond Vthe tappet-pins, so that when the dome reaches a position where the tappets have'moved so far past the valve as to offer no obstruction to opening or closing of the same, still this cannot be done by reason of the obstruction offered by the strips. In Fig. 9 the letter a; designates such a guard-strip projecting suiiieiently from the bar to prevent opening of the valve after the lowest tappet-pin t3 has passed up beyond the valve-tappet o2.

Figs. 10 and l1 illustrate a modified form of carbid-holder designed for large plants, in which it is practical to dispense with the removable carbid receptacle. rPhe exterior construction of the holder is the same as that shown in Fig. 1; but there is no water-space across the bottom of the tank, the latter constituting the bottom of the carbid-chamber, whose walls y rise from the bottom of the tank. A single partition-plate y is shown which divides the carbid-chamber into two compartments, and two vertically-disposed grates y extend longitudinally of the holder,

straddling the partition-plate in the-manner 'heretofore described in connection with Fig.

o. The two grates are located at a sufficient distance from the side walls ot' the carbidchamber to provide spaces for accommodating the carbid when it is expanded. A washout-pipe z extends along below the carbidholder and communicates by valved branches z with the interior of the same, and it is the purpose to wash out the residue by directing a stream of water from a hose or in any other suitable wayr into the carbid-chamber when the same is to be cleansed, the valved branches z' of the washout having been opened.

We may employ a plurality of carbid-holders of the `type here shown in conjunction with a single gasometer, and Fig. l2 illustrates in diagram a duplex arrangement, the numeral 2 designating, diagram matically, carbid-holders, 3 the automatic valves thereof, t the gasometer, and 5 the gas-pipes leading-from the carbid-holders to a common inlet-pipe 6, eX- tending to thegasometer.

The operation of the apparatus will be ap-Y parent from the foregoing and need be but briefly reviewed. Water from the tank g passes through the pipe g and discharges into one compartment of the carbid-holder, in the bottom of which such water collects in contact with the carbid, so that gas is evolved and passes through the pipe h to the washer and thence to the gasometer. When sufficientgas has been generated to raise the dome of the latter a comparatively short distance, one -of the tappets t encounters the water- Valve tappet and turns the valve so that the water is shut off. When consumption of gas causes lowering of the dome, the valve will be opened again by one of the tappets t and water will flow to the carbid-cham ber, wherein the water-level will be raised and fresh carbid reached, so as to renew the generation of gas. This continues until the carbid in the compartment is exhausted, and then the water overflows into the next compartment and its complement of carbid is used in the same way, and so on until all the carbid is consumed.

It will be seen that by providing for cutting oft'y the water-supply in a predetermined extent of upward movement of the deine from whatever position it may have reached in descending within a certain range after production is reduced to the minimum. The interposition of the horizontal partitions in the carbid-holder also serves to limit this after production, for these partitions not only relieve the generating portion of the charge of carbid from weight of the carbid thereabove, but also directly obstruct capillary action. The apparatus can therefore be charged with a very large amount of carbid without danger of after product-ion.

' The arrangement shown for supplying the carbid-holder and the washer-tank with water and preserving the necessary level therein also provides for changing the water when- ICO IIS

ever desired while the apparatus is in operation, and this is an important advantage, since it affords a way of cooling the carbidholder and lowering the temperature of the gas and also a way of making the Washer thoroughly efiicient. It is perfectly feasible with such an arrangement to maintain a constant How of water through the holder or the washer, or both, if found desirable, and it will be seen that by having the outlet-pipe open within the inner member of the holder at an elevated point assurance is had that the water will rise high enough to act effectively as a cooling agent. Furthermore, the opening of the outlet-pipe within the inner member of the holder insures changing of the water inside as well as outside the said inner member, whereas if the outlet was simply from the outer member of the holdel there would be no assurance of such change or circulation within the inner member, bearing in mind the presence of pressure therein exerted outwardly against the water in opposition to an inflow of a fresh supply of water.

It will now be seen that all of the objects primarily stated are thoroughlyaccomplished by the construction herein described; but nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms than here shown.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is- 1. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators having a vertical partition dividing the carbid-chamber from an expansion-space and held against lateral movement, said partition comprising bars separated by slots for the purpose described.

2. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators, the same being of substantially-rectangular form and vertically partitioned into compartments for the carbid in communication over the tops of the partitions whereby a water-supply entering one of the com partments will reach the others by overfiowin g the partitions, together with a vertical grate held against lateral movement and dividing the carbid-chambers from expansion-spaces in the compartments, substantially as described.

3. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators comprising a su bstan tially-rectangular inclosure transverse imperforate partitions vertically disposed therein and forming a series of open-top compartments, and a sectional grate vertically arranged in the inclosure, its sections occupying the compartments, respectively, and subdividing the same to form carbid-chambers on the one side and expansion-spaces on the other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators having imperforate sides and bottom and vertical partition with openings therethrough together with provisions for receiving the feed-water on said bottom whence it rises for contact with the carbid; together with one or more imperforate partitions for supporting part or parts of the charge of carbid, and separating the same from the lowermost portion, whereby the separated parts of the charge are successively used in the order in which they are superposed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators having imperforate sides and bottom and vertical partition with openings therethrough together with provisions for receiving the feed-water on said bottom whence it rises for cont-act with the carbid; together with one or more movable imperforate horizontal partitions for supporting part or parts of the charge ot' carbid and separating the same from the lowermost portion, whereby the separated parts of the charge are successively used in the order in which they are superposed; and suitable manipulative means for supporting the partitions in their working position.

6. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators, the saine having provisions for receiving the feed-water in its bottom whence it rises for contact with the carbid and a vertical partition with openings therethrough and also having a horizont-al partition hinged to move vertically, said partition supporting part of the charge of carbid and separating the same from the portion below, together with means forsupporting said partition in a horizontal position manipulative to release the same, substantially as described.

7. A ca rbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators, comprising a removable exterior shell or casing, an interior vertical partition with open ings therethrough, a horizontal partitionplate hinged to the latter to swing vertically, and means for supporting said plate in horizontal position, substantially as described.

8. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators, comprising an exterior shell or casing, an interior vertical partition, in the form of avertical removable g1-ate, a horizontal partition-plate hinged to the latter to swing vertically, and means for supporting said plate in its horizontal position.

9. A carbid-holder for acetylene-gas generators the same comprising an exterior casing, anda pair of vertically-arranged grates therein forming between them a carbid-chamber and providing expansion-spaces at each side of the same, said grates being held from lateral movement, substantially as described.

10. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus the combination of a carbid-holder, a removable cover therefor, a water-supply conduit entering the holder,a gas-conduit leading out of the holder, a gas-vent, a single valve-piece common to the said conduits and the vent, and cover-securing means in the form of one or' more horizontally-swinging latches operatively connected with the said valve, Where- IIO by displacement of the secu ring means effects Y closure of the water and gas conduit-s and opening of the vent.

11. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a carbid-holder,a removable cover for the same, water and gasconduits communicating with the interior of the holder,a valve common to the two conduits and controlling the iow of fluid therethrough, and securing means for the cover in the form ot' one or more horizontally-swinging latches operatively connected with said valve whereby the displacement of the securing means el'-` fects closure of both conduits, substantially as described. y

12. lu acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with the carbid-holder and its cover, and the water and gas conduits; of a plug-valve controlling said conduit-s, and one or more horizontally-swinging coversecuring latches rotatively connected with said plug-valve, substantially as and for the pur` pose described.

13. 4In acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus,

the combination, with the carbidholder andits cover, and the water and gas conduits; of a plug-valve controlling said conduits, a plu- 'rality of horizontally-swinging cover-secur- 15. In appara tus of the character describedv a water-sealed gas-generating chamber comprising a double-walled tank for containing a body of water between its walls,'said tank having a water-inlet` in its outer wall at the top portion thereof; a cover with a depending portion extending down between the walls of the tank to form the seal; a water-outlet pipe opening at the normal level of t-he water seal within the depending portion of the cover between the same and the inner wall of the tank, said pipe extending under the depending portion of the cover and out throughA the outer wall of the tank; and a bend in continuation of said outlet-pipe extending upward to the normal level of the water seal outside the depending portion of the cover between the same and the outer Wall ot' the tank, substantially as described.

16. In acet-ylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with the carbid-holder and a gas-conduit leading from the generating.

into the other compartment'a't the bottom; a

washer device in one compartment in communication with the gas-conduit; and a blow-off from the other compartment with which the gas-vent communicates. y f

17. In acetylene-gasgeneratingapparatus, the combination, with the carbid-holder and a gas-conduit leading from the generatingchamber thereof, and a gas-vent pipe; ofa water-tank with avertical partition dividing it into compartments; a water-supplypipe entering the lower part of one compartment, an Outlet-pipe-extending from the lower part'of the other compartment, in the form of an upwardly-extending bend having an opening at the top, a pipe extending from the upper part of one compartment through the partition to the lower part of the other compartment; a washenhood in one compartment ir. comm unication with the gas-conduit; and a blow-off from the other compartment with which the gas-vent communicates.

18. In acetylenegas-generatingapparatus, the combinati-on, with the gasometer, of an automatically-controlled vater-supply valve, the latter and the gasomcter-dome having coacting abutments, a plurality of such abutments on the one part designed to separately coact with the same abutment on the other part under either direction of movement ot' the gasometerdome, whereby a predetermined extent of movement of the gasometer-dome in either direction from diliierent positions will effect operation of the valve, substantially as described.

19. In acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, the combination, of a water-supply valve having a tappet, and a gasometer-dome havinga series of tappets arranged to severally coact with that of the valve under either direction of movement of the gasometer-dome, whereby the same extent of movement of the dome from different positions may eect operation of the valve', substantially as described.

20. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination, of a water-supply valve having a tappet, and agasolneter-dome having a series of tappets arranged to severally coact with that of the valve under either direction of movement of the gasometer-dome whereby the same extent of movement of the dome from dierent positions may effect operation of the valve, means provided for restoring the valve to position for coaction'with a dometappet upon its return, after having once passed .the valve-tappet.

21. In acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, the combination, of a water-supply valve having a tappet, and a gasometer-dome havinga series of tappets arranged to severally coact with that of the valve under either direction of movement of the gasometer-dome,whereby the same extent of movement of the dome from different positions may effect operation of the valve, and means in the nature of a weight applied to the valve-tappet to restore IOO the same to position for coaction with a dometappet, afterhaving been displaced by the latter, substantially as described.

22. In acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, the combination, of an oscillating water-valve having a disk, a tappet pivot-ed thereto and having lateral projections to abut the periphery of the disk, a weighted arm secured to th'e tappet and projecting therefrom, and a gasolneter-dome havinga depending arm with a series of equidistant tappets adapted to coact with the tappet of the valve, substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. In acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, the combination, of a water-supply valve havinga tappet, and a gasometer-dome having a series of rigid tappets arranged to severally coact with the valVe-tappet for opening and closing the valve, and a pivoted end tappet shouldered so as to turn the valve under one direction of movement of the dome and to trip past the valve-tappet under the reverse direction of movement of said dome, substantially as described.

24. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination, of a Water-supply valve having a tappet, and a gasometer-dome having a series of tappets arranged to severally coact with that of the valve, whereby the same extent of movement of thedome from different positions may effect operation of the valve, said dome also having a guard beyond the tappets to prevent shifting of the valve by hand, substantially as described.

25. In acetyleue-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of an oscillatory Water-supply valve having a tappet projection, and a gasometer-dome having a depending arm or bar with a series of tappet projections to c0- act with that of the valve and also with a guard-strip beyond the tappets -to prevent turning of the valve by hand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of October, A. D. 1899.

DAVID L. SPAULDING. AMBROSE S. VOSE. Witnesses:

F. P. DAVIS, ARTHUR W. CROSSLEY. 

